School profile

The Ashcombe School

Secondary · Academy converter · Dorking, RH4 1LY

Good

Map showing The Ashcombe School

Schools
Numbers on map: pupil ages
Outstanding
Good
Requires improvement
Inadequate
Not rated

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#480 of 3,312

Better than 85% of schools in England

Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.

A-level 2024/25

#1,094 of 2,536

Similar to most schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

The Ashcombe School Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 28 Jan 2015

Ofsted rating
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Sixth form provision
Good

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeAcademy converter
Ages11 to 18
Pupils1,533
GenderMixed
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMr Chris Panting
TrustSOUTH EAST SURREY SCHOOLS EDUCATION TRUST
Local authoritySurrey
Opened01 Jan 2017
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 143901.

GCSE results

2025/26

GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.

MeasureThis schoolSurreyEngland
Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average.55.2, better than England, better than Surrey50.746.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.79.8%, better than England, better than Surrey73.1%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.61.4%, better than England, better than Surrey54.6%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.17.2%, better than England, similar to Surrey17.9%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths75.1%, better than England, better than Surrey68.8%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4233--

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

A-level results

2024/25

Results for students at the end of 16 to 18 study.

MeasureThis schoolSurreyEngland
Average points per A-level entryA* is 60, A is 50, B is 40, C is 30, D is 20, E is 10.34.81, similar to England, worse than Surrey37.1935
Average A-level gradeC+--
Average points, best three A-levels34.21, similar to England, worse than Surrey37.535.78
Average grade, best three A-levelsC+--
AAB or better15.6%, similar to England, similar to Surrey18.1%17.5%
A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average.0.21, better than England--
A-level progressAbove average, better than England--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study158--
Average applied general gradeVocational qualifications, such as BTECs.Dist---

Source: DfE, 16 to 19 performance, Academic year 2024/25, published 23 Apr 2026.

Pupils

2025/26

Pupils at the January school census.

MeasureThis school
Total pupils1,533
Girls709
Boys824
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.10.5%
First language not English6.8%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.1,476
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.0%
Sixth form places2024/25276
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.286
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.48
Average class size21.7

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Pupils ethnicity

2025/26

Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.

Pupils ethnicity

White British
77.9%
Other White
10.4%
White and Asian
2.5%
Other mixed
2.5%
White and Black African
1%
Indian
0.7%
Bangladeshi
0.7%
Other Asian
0.7%
African
0.7%
White and Black Caribbean
0.6%

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Teachers and staff

2025/26

Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.

MeasureThis school
Pupils per teacher16.7
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.14.1
Teachers (FTE)91.88
Teaching assistants (FTE)15.02
Support staff (FTE)48.06
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2596.4
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2585.8
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/253.8
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/256.8

Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.

Admissions

2026/27

Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.

MeasureThis school
Offers made (Year 7)Places offered on national offer day.223
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.644
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.268
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.215
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)1

Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.

Attendance

2025/26

Share of possible sessions missed.

MeasureThis schoolSurreyEngland
Overall absence7.3%, better than England, similar to Surrey7%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.19%, better than England, similar to Surrey17.8%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.3.1%, similar to England, similar to Surrey2.9%3.6%

Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Suspensions and exclusions

2024/25

Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.

MeasureThis school
Suspension rate5.9%
Pupils with one or more suspensions3.4%
Permanent exclusion rate0%
Permanent exclusions0

Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.

Destinations after GCSEs

2023/24

Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.94%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.90%
School sixth form59.4%
Sixth form college15.9%
Further education13.9%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.4.4%
Apprenticeship2.4%
Employment1.6%

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Destinations after A-levels

2023/24

Where students went after 16 to 18 study, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.91.4%
Higher education57.8%
Employment27.3%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.5.5%
Apprenticeship3.9%
Further education1.6%

Source: DfE, 16 to 18 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Nearby schools

Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.

Schools near The Ashcombe School
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.4 miPrimarySt Martin's CofE Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.6 miNurseryDorking Nursery SchoolLocal authority nursery school
Good
0.7 miPrimarySt Paul's CofE Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.8 miPrimarySt Joseph's Catholic Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Unrated
1.0 miSecondaryThe Priory Church of England SchoolAcademy converter
Good
1.1 miPrimaryPowell Corderoy Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
1.5 miPrimarySt John's Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy sponsor led
Requires improvement
1.7 miPrimarySurrey Hills All Saints Primary SchoolAcademy sponsor led
Good

Frequently asked questions about The Ashcombe School

What is The Ashcombe School's Ofsted rating?

The Ashcombe School is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected on 28 Jan 2015.

How does The Ashcombe School rank in England?

The Ashcombe School ranks 480 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (better than 85% of schools) and 1,094 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (similar to most schools).

What are The Ashcombe School's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 61.4% of pupils at The Ashcombe School got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 55.2 (England 46.2).

What are The Ashcombe School's A-level results?

In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at The Ashcombe School was C+, and 15.6% of students got AAB or better (England 17.5%).

How hard is it to get into The Ashcombe School?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, The Ashcombe School made 223 offers from 644 applications (2.9 per offer), and 215 of 268 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend The Ashcombe School?

The Ashcombe School has 1,533 pupils aged 11 to 18.

What is the capacity of The Ashcombe School?

The Ashcombe School had 1,476 school places in 2024/25.

Does The Ashcombe School have a sixth form?

Yes, The Ashcombe School has a sixth form with 276 places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at The Ashcombe School?

At The Ashcombe School, the average class had 21.7 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 16.7 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at The Ashcombe School?

In 2025/26, pupils at The Ashcombe School missed 7.3% of sessions (England 8%), and 19% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 21.6%).

Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.